Asus Eee PC 701

Between that and the ability to connect to both wired and 802.11b/g wireless networks, there's little to stop you expanding its storage externally. As the icing on the cake there's even a 640x480-resolution webcam set into the bezel.

Build quality is easily good enough for the Eee to withstand its target audience of children. It feels unflinchingly solid, the keyboard has a reassuringly firm base, and there's virtually no give in the screen's mounting. The lack of moving parts - with a solid-state disk and the lack of an optical drive - make the Eee at least as shock-proof as its ultraportable competitors. It stood up well in our battery tests as well - running under light use for 3:31. You're unlikely to give it as thorough a workout as our Linux-based intensive test did; even so, the Eee ran flat-out for 2:48.

If you need an ultraportable for business, you should still buy a Sony VAIO VGN-G11; it runs Windows and your IT department won't get the vapours when you bring it in to be serviced.

You could buy six Eees for the same cash though, and if you're simply browsing the internet, knocking out the odd email and uploading pictures to Flickr, it delivers the goods. The Eee renders websites properly, comes with the office suite currently occupying the Alternative Choice slot on the A List, and it's so portable you'll struggle to find a bag it won't fit in.

In fact it's hard to name anything consumers will dislike. As much as the Eee has been headline news for its potential in the education market, we can only deliver a full-blooded recommendation for all.

Author: Dave Stevenson